XJ 550

1981 Yamaha XJ 550 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Positioned in Yamaha's classic motorcycle lineup, the 1981 Yamaha XJ 550 pairs a 528 cc (32.2 cu in) air-cooled in-line four, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 50 HP (36.5 kW) at 9,000 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 6-speed gearbox and chain final drive. With a specific output of 94.7 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the XJ 550 measures 204 kg (450 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.25 HP/kg (4.08 kg per horsepower). The 15-liter (4 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 176 km/h (109 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Yamaha archive, this model family spans 4 indexed model years from 1981 to 1984, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.